Heerlen Elderly Agreement 2025-2030

Every week more than 1,000 senior citizens throughout the city already exercise through the Senior Active program, and more than 3,000 over-65s take advantage of the opportunity for a free library subscription. These successful initiatives will continue, but at the same time we are going much further. The basis of the Heerlens Ouderen Akkoord consists of four pillars; encouraging exercise, engagement, mental challenge as well as stimulating the realization of more suitable senior housing and transit. This takes into account affordability and a diverse supply such as life-proof patio homes in our neighborhoods and districts so that people can continue to live in their familiar surroundings as much as possible, right where they feel at home. The Heerlen Elderly Agreement contains a large number of new initiatives. Two examples are the Heerlen Seniors Academy, which focuses on sharing the wealth of knowledge and experience of the elderly, and the Seniors Phone, which makes information about neighborhood activities and facilities accessible in an accessible way.

Getting Started Together

The agreement came about in part through 23 meetings with more than 300 seniors and conversations with many community partners including health care professionals and senior citizen associations. 

Alderman Marco Peters: "With the Heerlen Elderly Agreement we are taking an important step towards a future in which all seniors, if they so desire, feel supported, heard and valued. A city in which seniors remain vital and connected, where people count, participate and can retain control of their own lives. Our seniors deserve that! The joint signing of the Accord with our community partners is thus also the starting signal to realize this together."

On June 25, the City Council will consider the agreement; it will be signed with all of our community partners in early July.